‘Equality is not a paper commitment’: the EU’s quiet push to enforce LGBTIQ+ rights [Advocacy Lab]
More than a third of LGBTIQ+ people in the EU report discrimination, and over half face harassment, yet political backlash and budget cuts are...
Hungary top court voids key parts of Orbán’s tax decree
Hungary’s Constitutional Court annulled a widely disputed government decree on Wednesday, allowing courts to continue litigating cases involving a controversial “solidarity” tax imposed on...
Trump says Iran deal ‘very possible’ but threatens strikes if talks fail
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he believed a deal with Iran was “very possible” but threatened to again bomb the country if...
UN’s Albanese accuses Israel of trying to ‘exploit’ Greece
Greece is making a mistake by deepening its cooperation with Israel in response to its insecurity toward Turkey, United Nations expert Francesca Albanese has...
Finale of Spanish corruption trial keeps Sánchez under pressure
MADRID – Spain’s Supreme Court heard closing arguments in one of the most significant corruption trials in years on Wednesday, piling pressure on Prime...
EU centre-right saves Orbán ally’s job in Brussels
Europe’s centre-right party has thrown a protective ring around Olivér Várhelyi, the Hungarian EU commissioner appointed by Viktor Orbán, in the aftermath of Fidesz’s...
EU countries split as Russian visa numbers climb again
Russians are increasingly returning to Europe for holidays, even as the EU has some of the world’s toughest sanctions against Moscow over the war...
US pauses Hormuz escorts, Trump says progress on Iran deal
The United States will pause escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz barely a day after it began doing so, President Donald Trump...
EU gives Russians MORE tourist visas
You’re reading Rapporteur on Wednesday 6 May. This is Nicoletta Ionta in Brussels.
Need-to-knows:
🟢 Surge in Russian tourist visas in Europe🟢 Whistleblowers line up to...
Armenia shifts from Russia towards West with new defence deals
Armenia used a two-day gathering of European leaders in its capital to push its top priority, security, as it accelerates a shift away from...
Armenia pivots West with EU deals at landmark Yerevan summits
YEREVAN – Armenia took a decisive step towards the European Union this week, hosting back-to-back summits that delivered fresh agreements, funding pledges and momentum...
ING pays €1.6 million over failure to report Reynders transactions
The Belgian branch of ING bank has paid €1.6 million for failing to report suspicious cash deposits made by former EU justice commissioner Didier...
Farm scandal: Greek government again shields former ministers
Greece’s ruling New Democracy party has decided to vote against an opposition motion to lift the immunity of two former ministers, as requested by...
INTERVIEW: Trump won’t take EU defence efforts seriously, ex-US ambassador says
Fears that EU talk on boosting the bloc’s mutual defence clause could lead Donald Trump to downgrade Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5 are...
EU backtracks on Serbia funding stop
The European Commission has denied that it has halted funding to Serbia, contradicting remarks made days earlier by enlargement commissioner Marta Kos, who suggested...
Humanitarian language must not hide political responsibility
Humanitarian action is often framed through a vocabulary focused on urgency, needs and assistance. Terms such as “crisis,” “emergency” or “vulnerability” are commonly used...
Shock US withdrawal announcement dominates EPC talks as Europe confronts defence reliance
The announcement of US troop withdrawals from Germany overshadowed the start of the European Political Community (EPC) meeting on Monday, shifting the focus from...
This is just a drill …right?
You’re reading Rapporteur on Monday 4 May. This is Eddy Wax, joined by Nicoletta Ionta in Brussels.
Need-to-knows:
🟢 EU war games begin🟢 Armenia convenes leaders🟢...